A Yuletide Gift

Title: A Yuletide Gift

Author: Khylea

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Glorfindel/Elrond

Timeline: Third Age 2511, a few months after Celebrían sailed to the Undying Lands.

Archive: Feel free, just drop me a URL where I can visit it please sl_chester@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters....but if they would like to join me for a Yule celebration I would make it more than worth their while. *evil smile*

Feedback: Please....good or bad, I’m not picky.

Beta: Manon. Thanks hon!

Summary: Elrond is feeling sad about spending his first Yule without his wife. Glorfindel offers comfort.

Author's Notes: 1) Before I get flayed alive for writing the twins as the wrong age, yes, I took some liberties with this story. Though technically the twins would be about 2,400 years old at the time this took place, it worked better for the story I wanted to tell for them to be elflings when their mother sailed to Valinor. Please forgive my altering of this. 2) Technically Yule was used in the Shire and by the men of the north. I cannot find a reference to tell me what Elves would have called their midwinter celebration, if they did in fact even have one. But since Elrond was rather fond of hobbits, it did not seem too much of a stretch that this celebration may have been called Yule.

Special thanks to Heather, who listened to me whine about wanting to write a Christmas story and brainstormed with me until we came up with a plot. *hug* Love you, hon!


The soft knock on his door startled Elrond from his musing. “Who is it?” he snapped, tossing his hair clip down on the dresser in irritation.

“Glorfindel, Elrond. May I come in?” came the muffled voice of his seneschal from the other side of the heavy wooden door.

“Enter!” Elrond called, not rising from his seated position in front of the mirror. He watched in the glass as Glorfindel entered the room and swung the door shut behind him and, after a moment, the blonde’s face appeared above his in the mirror as Glorfindel came to stand behind him. “Should you not be out making merry, Glorfindel?” Elrond asked acidly.

“Aye, I will....” Glorfindel was used to Elrond’s sharp tone as of late and knew his lord was not meaning to be cruel. “....as soon as you join me in the Hall of Fire.”

“I have no wish to celebrate Yule this year, Glorfindel. If anyone can understand my reason, surely it would be you.”

With a deep sigh, Glorfindel laid a hand on Elrond’s shoulder. “Mellon....” he said softly. “She would not want you to sit here by yourself while your friends talk and laugh and dance. She never wished for you to grieve for her.”

“Glorfindel, I....”

“Elrond....” Glorfindel interrupted gently. “You are not the only one who misses her. Your lady was well loved by the residents of Imladris. You would not be dishonoring her memory to spend time with those who also cared for her.” Elrond said nothing, though Glorfindel could feel him relaxing.

“And what of your sons? They do not understand why their ada is not at the celebration. They already lost a mother, Elrond,” he said softly. “Do not make them lose a father as well.”

Elrond sighed and nodded slightly. “Aye, I suppose you are right, Glorfindel, I just....” his voice trailed off, his expression growing distant, longing, unshed tears sparkling in his eyes.

“I know,” Glorfindel said gently after a moment. “The others will understand if you are not the perfect host you have been in previous years. They would not fault you for that. They simply wish to have your presence, to reassure themselves that you are healing.”

Elrond sighed again, more deeply this time. “Alright....for a little while at least.”

Glorfindel smiled. “Excellent! Now....what shall you wear?”

Elrond shook his head and could not help but smile a little as Glorfindel threw open the door to his closet and started rifling through his robes, shaking his head and muttering softly to himself as he was clearly not finding what he was looking for. Finally he pulled out a deep crimson robe with gold embroidery across the chest and down the arms and brought it over to Elrond, then dug through his drawers until he found matching tunic and leggings. “Have you appointed yourself my personal wardrobe supervisor, Glorfindel?” he asked with an amused smile.

“Aye, I have....now get dressed and I will do your braids.” Elrond did as he was ordered, quickly donning the new clothes and sitting back on the chair in front of the mirror. He watched with a slight smile as Glorfindel quickly did up his hair in the elaborate braids befitting his status, weaving in sparkling ribbons of silver and gold. Elrond's smile widened as Glorfindel continued working, slightly amazed at how the large, sword callused hands could be capable of creating such delicate, intricate braids.

“There. Now come....before those two ravenous wolves you call sons devour all the food.” He took Elrond’s hand and led him down the hallways toward the Hall of Fire. At the door, Elrond stopped and pulled his hand from Glorfindel’s, taking a deep breath to center himself, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in his robe before plastering on a smile and heading into the room. He nodded politely as he was greeted by the others, bowing in return when he was bowed to, and for all appearances being the gracious host. But even in the dim light, Glorfindel could see the small creases at the corners of his eyes, could see the smile was strained.

Elrond made his way across the room, stopping briefly now and then to give and receive words of greeting and make small talk with those who approached him. He finally made it to the large ceremonial chair set against one wall, underneath a large swag of fresh fir branches. With a deep sigh, he sunk down in the chair, watching the revelry from a safe distance. Glorfindel watched him for a moment, shaking his head, before moving away and joining in the celebration.

****************************

“We are NOT too young!” The young elfling’s voice echoed across the room, causing all those nearby to cringe as it was joined with another, similar voice screaming in frustration. “You said last year that we could do it this year, ada! You LIED!” Elrond cringed away from the accusing tone in Elladan’s voice and cringed again as Elrohir’s whining, sobbing cry came louder and louder.

“I know I did, ion nin, but the snow has been too wet, the slope is icy and slippery, you could get hurt and....”

“YOU LIED!!!!” Elladan screamed at the top of his voice, causing all conversation in the room to suddenly stop as everyone turned to face Elrond and his shrieking, sobbing twins. Elrohir clung to his father’s robe, crying softly and mumbling “not fair” under his breath, while Elladan stood tall before Elrond, pinning him with an accusing stare. Elrond fidgeted and looked away from his son’s cold glare, at a loss as to what to do. Since Celebrían had sailed, the twins’ behavior had changed, Elladan becoming loud and hostile, Elrohir quieter and needy. He had not deliberately neglected his sons’ needs, but found it difficult enough to deal with his own grief and was at a loss as to how to help the twins through their pain.

“Elladan?” Glorfindel said gently, coming to stand behind the elfling. Elladan turned and looked up at the golden warrior.

“What?” he snapped. Glorfindel kneeled down in front of him so they were at eye level to each other and reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder, which Elladan immediately shook off, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Your father did not lie to you, Elladan.”

“Yes he did, he said last year that we could go sledding with the others and now he is saying that we cannot! He....”

“Elladan....” Glorfindel interrupted, with enough of an edge to his voice that the young elf immediately stopped. Though the twins loved Glorfindel deeply, and considered him to be like a second father, they were also a bit afraid of him and did not willingly cross him. “Your father did not lie. He....” He paused for a moment, thinking quickly. “....wants you to decorate the Yule tree instead.”

Elrond frowned, unsure where Glorfindel was going with this.

“But Glorfy, I thought only grown ups could decorate the Yule tree,” Elladan said softly.

“Aye, you are precisely right, Elladan....only grown ups can decorate the Yule tree. Which is exactly why your father wants you to do it this year. Because you are grown up.”

Elrohir unwrapped himself from Elrond’s robes and looked up into his father’s eyes. “Is that true, ada? You want us to decorate the Yule tree?”

“Yes....yes of course....” Elrond stumbled, caught off guard by Glorfindel’s words and trying to keep up with what his friend had in mind. “You are old enough now to do that.” Elladan puffed out his chest and Elrond cringed, trying not to think about how the tree would have no decorations above about four feet high, the reach of two boisterous elflings.

“YAY!!!!” Two voices screamed in unison, as the twins quickly ran to the tree and began throwing decorations at it. Glorfindel could not help but laugh as he watched their progress. After a few minutes, he moved to stand beside Elrond’s chair.

Elrond looked up at him and could not help but smile. “You realize, mellon....that tree will look as if a tornado hit it.”

“Two tornados to be exact, Elrond. But it will be worth it to make them happy.” Glorfindel laughed softly as some of the older elves that had been about ready to start on the tree backed away, shaking their heads, as the twins yanked decorations from their hands and threw them at the tree.

Elrond and Glorfindel watched their progress for a while, and Elrond smiled as one side of the tree became overloaded with ribbons and painted pine cones and other decorations while the other side remained bare. Finally he reached for Glorfindel’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Glorfindel.” The seneschal nodded, returning the squeeze and once again moving off to enjoy the celebration.

***************

With two persistent elflings, it was not long until the Yule tree was decorated, and once the excitement began to wear off, the twins quickly grew sleepy. But like any young ones, they fought to stay awake as the celebration continued late into the night. Elves began to leave in couples and small groups to celebrate Yule in a more private manner, and finally two little dark haired forms could be seen tangled together in sleep under the tree.

With a gentle smile, Glorfindel picked them up, settling one on each hip. Elrond was dozing in his chair but came awake when Glorfindel softly called his name. “I will take them back to their beds, Elrond. You look too sleepy to carry them.”

Elrond smiled ruefully, rubbing his forehead. “Aye, I am....it is about time for me to retire as well....my human side is making itself quite known right now.” Glorfindel nodded, shifting the twins so they leaned against his shoulders. They muttered softly in sleep, but did not wake, each slipping a comforting thumb into their mouths. Elrond looked away for a moment, and when he looked back, was surprised to see a look of utmost tenderness and love on Glorfindel’s face. He knew the warrior cared for his sons but, until that moment, had never let his feelings show so plainly. Still unaware he was being scrutinized, Glorfindel dropped a gentle kiss on each dark head and whispered soft words Elrond could not hear before heading to their bedrooms.

Elrond could only smile at the show of tenderness from his golden friend. He had seen the viciousness of Glorfindel’s temper, had seen him hack an orc to bits with his flashing sword, had seen him kill a warg with his bare hands when his sword was lost. And yet the seneschal could also strum the sweetest tunes on his harp, could quiet a frightened horse or lift an injured bird so gently not a feather was ruffled. But until then, he had not seen such tenderness toward his beloved sons. Despite his wishes, he felt a gentle swell of love and desire in his belly and began to see his dear friend in a different light. Frowning at himself, he shook his head.

Glorfindel returned a few minutes later, sans elflings, but with two goblets of heated, spiced Yule wine. Elrond had moved from the ornate chair to a soft sofa in front of the fire and, handing him one of the goblets, Glorfindel sat next to him. Elrond took it with a soft thanks and took a small sip, gazing into the flames. For many minutes, nothing was said as the two friends simply enjoyed the company of the others’ presence.

“Glorfindel?” Elrond finally said softly, as if unwilling to break the peaceful silence.

“Yes?”

“Happy Yule.”

“To you as well, my lord.”

“And thank you for insisting I come.”

“You are happy you did now?”

“Aye, I am....you are right, mellon. Celebrían would not have wanted me to hide in my rooms and mourn her loss. She would have wanted me to be with others, to celebrate the season, to celebrate friendship and love.” They grew silent again, staring into the flames, each lost in thought. After a while, Glorfindel looked down in surprise when he realized Elrond had dozed off, leaning against his shoulder. With a small smile, he set both of their goblets on the hearth and wrapped an arm around Elrond’s shoulders.

He let his lord sleep for close to an hour, but as the fire flickered lower and finally burned itself down to coals, and midnight grew close, he gently shook Elrond awake. “Mellon, it is late....come, let us get you to bed.” Elrond looked up at him blearily and Glorfindel’s breath caught in this throat. In all the years he had served Elrond, he had never seen his lord looking so lovely. Impulsively, giving over to the longing that had occupied his thoughts for so long, he leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against Elrond’s. Rather than starting as he had expected, Elrond smiled and returned the gentle kiss, after a moment reaching up to gently caress Glorfindel's cheek. “Come, Elrond....time for bed,” the seneschal whispered, not wanting to break the mood.

Elrond mumbled something to himself as Glorfindel lifted him to his feet and walked him down the corridor toward his bedroom. Once they reached it, he closed the door behind them and sat Elrond on the edge of his bed, helping him off with his robe. He took it to the closet to hang it up, and when he turned back, Elrond had moved to the sofa near the window.

“Mellon, what are you doing? You are nearly asleep on your feet, come, you need to get some sleep.”

“I will, Glorfindel, but....not there....” Elrond looked at the bed and flinched, and Glorfindel suddenly understood. The ornate four poster bed had been a wedding gift from Elrond to Celebrían, the fine silks draping over the massive carved timbers brought to Imladris by Celeborn and Galadriel when they came to see their daughter wedded to Elrond Peredhel.

Glorfindel’s heart clenched in his chest as he saw the pained look in Elrond’s eyes. Moving to kneel before Elrond, he took his lord’s hands in his, running his thumbs gently over Elrond's knuckles. “You have not slept in the bed since she sailed, have you mellon?” he whispered, gently squeezing.

Elrond quickly shook his head. “No, I cannot....there are too many memories. It is too lonely without her, too cold without her warmth.” He stopped for a moment. “When I sleep here, I can pretend,” he whispered. “Pretend I am just waiting for her to return from reading the twins a bedtime story. That she will shake me awake with a smile and lead me to the bed, nestling into my arms as she falls asleep.”

Glorfindel blinked back tears at the words and hesitated for a moment, unsure how Elrond would take his words. “Elrond....I am not your wife, and you know I would never presume to attempt to replace her in your life.” Elrond looked up at him, tears sparkling in his eyes. After a moment, he nodded. “But if you would permit me, I would ease your loneliness for this night. Yule is a celebration of friends and family. It is not a night to be alone. Perhaps you can sleep in the bed if you are not alone?”

After a long hesitation, Elrond nodded again, and Glorfindel’s heart ached at how the normally powerful Lord of Imladris looked small and vulnerable in the oversized sofa. “Come mellon....” he said softly, taking Elrond’s hand and leading him to the bed. He quickly shed his clothes and helped Elrond remove his, concerned about the distant, unseeing look in Elrond’s eyes. Elrond had not been so consumed with grief since the first days after Celebrían sailed. Pulling back the coverlet, he slid between the sheets, cradling Elrond against his chest as the Peredhel suddenly went limp in his arms.

For close to an hour, nothing further was said as Glorfindel’s hand trailed up and down Elrond’s bare back, trying to provide what comfort he could. Elrond did not move, but Glorfindel could tell he had not fallen asleep; his lord’s body was too tense, his breathing not regular enough. Glorfindel’s leg started to fall asleep and he shifted position, inadvertently brushing his shaft against Elrond’s. He could not help but gasp as a sudden fantasy gripped his mind, Elrond kissing and biting on his neck while riding him hard and fast.

He shifted position on the bed again, but in his half sleep Elrond pulled him closer, not realizing why Glorfindel was attempting to pull away. Glorfindel flinched as the contact caused his shaft to continue to grow, feeling suddenly ashamed to be growing aroused when Elrond needed comfort, not sex. He groaned softly as he reached full hardness, the soft noise causing Elrond to suddenly jolt from his dozing. Surprised, he looked down at Glorfindel’s engorged sex, then up into ashamed blue eyes.

After a moment, a smile grew on his face as Glorfindel tore his gaze away, and he reached up to lay a hand on the blonde’s cheek, gently turning his head to face him. “There is more than one way to offer comfort, mellon,” he whispered, stretching up to gently kiss Glorfindel. “And were you offering that method of comfort, you would find I would not be averse to it.”

Uncertainty and lust warred for dominance in Glorfindel’s expression before he finally nodded, rolling Elrond over to his back and kneeling above him. Taking Elrond’s face between his hands, he kissed him deeply, slowly rubbing his engorged sex against Elrond’s awakening shaft. Elrond moaned softly at the sensations as the seneschal slowly worked his way downward, kissing and licking on the soft skin of Elrond’s neck and chest.

Moving to take one nipple into his mouth, Glorfindel reached up a hand to squeeze and gently pull on the other, and a moan of pure need escaped Elrond’s lips. “Please....I need you, Glorfindel.”

Glorfindel moaned softly himself as his sex gave a hard throb at Elrond’s pleading. “No, my lord....not yet....I am offering comfort....taking you before you are ready will give you no comfort.”

“Glorfindel, please....” Elrond panted as the blonde switched to the other nipple, sucking and lightly biting on the taut flesh.

“Hush....” he whispered. “I promise to not leave you wanting, but I will not be hurried.” Straining to control his own throbbing need, he slid between Elrond’s legs, smiling slightly at how Elrond automatically spread them, wantonly asking for his touch. Kissing and licking his way down Elrond’s flat stomach, he carefully avoided Elrond’s now engorged sex, choosing instead to give attention to Elrond’s thighs and lower stomach.

Elrond groaned in frustrated need as the soft mouth drove him insane with pleasure, and when Glorfindel finally gave in and took his shaft into his mouth, nearly lifted off the bed in ecstasy. His moaning was continual now, tossing his head side to side as Glorfindel licked and sucked on his hard shaft.

Groaning softly himself and shifting position on the bed to relieve the pressure on his aching shaft, Glorfindel brushed his fingertips across Elrond’s puckered opening. “Do you want me to, mellon?” he asked softly, looking up into Elrond’s lust dilated eyes. Elrond hesitated for a moment before nodding quickly. “Have you done this before?”

“Aye, but it....it has been a long time.”

“Since Ereinion?” Glorfindel asked gently, suspecting that Elrond had not been with another male since the High King was killed during the Last Alliance.

A hint of pain flitted across Elrond’s face before he nodded briefly. “Aye, since Ereinion,” he said softly, briefly wondering why the two people he had cared more for than any others he had met during his long life had both left him.

Glorfindel nodded, sliding up Elrond’s body to softly kiss him again. “Do you have some oil? To ease our way?”

“Top drawer,” Elrond replied, indicating the small table next to the bed. Glorfindel found the indicated oil and again moved down between Elrond’s legs, coating the fingers of one hand with the fragrant vanilla scented massage oil. Looking up at Elrond to make sure it was alright, he gently pressed one finger inside, feeling Elrond clamp down around him and hearing him gasp slightly.

“Easy, Elrond....relax....take me inside....” After a moment the pressure on his finger decreased and he began slowly moving it in and out, hearing Elrond’s breathing quicken. After a while, he was able to add a second finger, then a third and, turning his hand palm up, searched for the bundle of nerves that would drive Elrond out of his mind with pleasure.

With a triumphant grin he found it, brushing his fingers firmly against the small bulge, holding Elrond gently down against the bed when the lord suddenly screamed in pleasure, arching his hips up, trying to drive Glorfindel’s fingers deeper into him.

“Glorfindel....I....I need....you....please....” he gasped, writhing on the bed in pleasure as each stroke of Glorfindel’s fingers caused another bolt of white-hot pleasure to shoot through his body. Glorfindel nodded, withdrawing his fingers and pouring oil on his erection. Lifting Elrond’s legs to his shoulders, he gently pressed inside, moaning softly at the glove like feel around his shaft.

Slowly he began to move, reaching between them to stroke Elrond’s shaft in time with his thrusts. Elrond moaned and gasped and begged and pleaded, his hands gripping Glorfindel’s buttocks, trying to drive him deeper still. Glorfindel grunted at the pain as Elrond’s fingernails dug into his flesh and angled his hips so he brushed against Elrond’s pleasure spot with each stroke.

A loud scream of fulfillment was torn from Elrond’s lips as he suddenly reached his climax, warm seed covering Glorfindel’s hand. A few strokes later, Glorfindel too reached his and moaned softly, clenching his eyes shut in pleasure as he released deep inside Elrond. For several seconds the only sounds were flesh slapping against flesh and soft gasps as they rode out the waves of pleasure.

Finally it was over and Glorfindel collapsed on Elrond’s chest, breathing hard. The Peredhel’s arms came around the blonde’s back, holding him tightly against him. Once Glorfindel could breathe properly again, he gently withdrew and rolled to his side, pulling Elrond against his chest. Elrond sighed softly as Glorfindel kissed and nibbled on the back of his neck, his hands never still on Elrond's chest and stomach.

For a long while nothing was said while they basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Finally Glorfindel spoke. “Feeling better now, mellon?”

Elrond shifted position and smiled, looking up into the deep blue eyes of his seneschal. “Aye....you are most skilled at the giving of comfort, my friend.”

Glorfindel also smiled, leaning forward to plant a soft kiss on Elrond’s forehead. “Thank you, my lord.”

Elrond settled back down next to him, but after a moment spoke again. “Where does this leave us, Glorfindel?”

“Where do you want it to leave us, Elrond?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I said Elrond. Unlike Erestor, I do not speak in riddles. Where do you want this to leave us? If this was just a night of comfort, of two friends wanting to be together on Yule, it will be nothing more than that.”

“But you wish it to be more,” Elrond replied with the insight he was famous for.

Glorfindel hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Aye, I would not be averse to that. I cannot lie to you, Elrond....I watched you disappear into the High King’s tent and wished it was mine you were coming to. I watched you hold your wife close, whisper into her ear and softly kiss her, and wished you would say such things to me. I have loved you for an age, Elrond....but I would never presume to ask you for that which you cannot or choose not to give.”

“Then this night meant nothing to you?” Elrond tried to hide his hurt.

“It meant everything to me, Elrond. I did not offer myself out of duty to you as my lord. I offered it out of love for you as my friend. But I will not ask for more than you can give. If you wish no more, it was simply two friends drawing comfort from one another. But if you do wish more, I would be more than willing to pursue it.” He hesitated. “Consider it my Yule gift to you, Elrond, since you forbid us from giving you a gift otherwise. This night will be whatever you wish it to be, either a simple night of comfort, or the beginning of much more.”

“I believe....I believe the beginning of much more would be nice,” Elrond said softly. “For the first time since Celebrían left, I feel as if my heart knows where it wishes to be. If you think you can tolerate my moods.”

Glorfindel smiled, tightening his hold on Elrond. “I have tolerated them for three millennia as your friend, Elrond. To tolerate them as your lover could not be much more difficult.”

Elrond smiled as well, snuggling down closer to Glorfindel, tucking his face into the crook of the blonde’s neck. “Thank you, mellon....meleth....” he corrected himself, “....for everything.”

“You are most welcome, my love,” Glorfindel whispered, closing his eyes in happiness. “Happy Yule, Elrond.”

“Happy Yule, Glorfindel.”

END

Elvish translations:

mellon: friend
meleth: love (as in “my love”)
ada: daddy
ion nin: my son