Sunburn Kisses.

Title: Sunburn kisses.
Author: Fishy (fishyz9@yahoo.com)
Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor.
Rating: R/NC17.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: A previous lover of Glorfindel’s causes Erestor to doubt his own place in Glorfindel’s heart.
Notes: Not beta’d, be warned. This is a fic I had bunged away, right now, my intentions are really just to actually finish all of my little half started/completed fics, then to finish my Mpreg, and then… to actually do something different. Ye-haw.

Sunburn kisses.


Glorfindel gritted his teeth as he was eased onto the bed with the assistance of his fellows, an unbelievable throbbing and sharp pain shooting through his leg as they did so. It was just as his head came to rest against the pillows that the healing wing doors swung open, and in rushed Erestor. He at the same time, felt agitated and relieved. Agitated, because he did not wish for anyone else to fawn over him. Four of his men and Elrond were enough, and he knew for certain that Erestor’s concern and mothering would outweigh them all quite easily, and for reasons not entirely to his likings. And well, relieved, because he was in pain, and Erestor was there.

“What happened?” Erestor asked, immediately at Glorfindel’s side, taking his hand

“A broken leg Erestor, nothing life threatening…” Elrond reassured as he carefully cut away the torn fabric of Glorfindel’s leggings, comically shooing the four other warrior’s out of the way who looked at that moment, like lost little lambs. Worried, lost little lambs. One holding his Captain’s sheathed sword, and another the reigns of Glorfindel’s steed.

“It is a bad break Glorfindel, the bone has punctured the skin in what seems a clear break. I will give you something too ease the pain, and then it will need resetting. Nothing to worry about.”

Glorfindel took a deep breath and nodded, squeezing Erestor’s hand in both reassurance that he would be alright, and in silent thanks for being there. Opening his eyes, he felt a certain ease at seeing Erestor’s warm smile, one he knew the advisor always saved for him alone.

He only released Erestor’s hand when a mug was pressed to his lips. Taking the mug in hand, refusing to be fed, he gladly brought the mug to his lips, but took only a sip when spotting his men over the brim of the mug, who stood anxiously waiting. And despite his pain, he managed a genuine quirk of the lips in amusement.

“Ivern, what do you carry there?” He asked the young elf carrying his reigns, and took another sip.

The elf in question rather dumbly looked down at his hands, before answering, “your reigns, ‘Cap’ in, you asked me to take them.”

“Yes, and by that what do you think I meant?” He asked with a grin as he took a few more mouthfuls of the concoction, ignoring its bitter taste and finding it more important to put his men at ease, who would be reporting back to the others of his condition.

The elf in question flushed, realising how very foolish he looked, and felt at that moment what he was, the very youngest guard. “I imagine you meant for me to take care of your ride.”

As Glorfindel nodded slowly, and if possible, what seemed sarcastically, the other three elves groaned, chuckled quietly, and more than one ruffled the young guards hair. Glorfindel managed a smile of his own, seeing that their worry was now successfully, and rather cleverly abated. They chuckled and slapped the embarrassed elf on the back as Glorfindel swallowed the rest of the mixture, it was only Erestor who noticed how his hands shook ever so slightly. And so rather passively, so as not to appear over baring, he gently cupped the back of Glorfindel’s hand as he lowered the mug, more to hide the trembling of the warrior‘s digits than anything.

It was as his men were gathered around the end of the bed, enquiring about his health to their Lord, that Glorfindel sought to ease Erestor’s own worried countenance. “What’s that?” he asked quietly.

“What’s what?” Erestor asked, looking away from the battered leg and touching the warrior’s brow.

“You’ve caught the sun again,” Glorfindel smiled.

“I always burn, you know that,” Erestor smiled, squeezing the hand he held.

“Sunburn kisses,” Glorfindel whispered, and only Erestor heard this, their private jest and intimate quirk that was theirs alone.

Elrond, who had been worrying over the condition of the warrior’s knee, at that moment looked up, “well as you can see, all of his limbs are intact, barely, as is his humour. Leave your Captain to be tended to and report back to the barracks.”

“Yes Milord,” they all spoke in turn, inclining their heads in respect. They left then, each giving their Captain and friend a gentle squeeze of the hand or shoulder. And even though the drugs were beginning to take effect, he was still able to note the involuntary squeeze of his other hand from Erestor, as Carlen, an old friend, and former lover of his, allowed his hand to supportively linger upon his shoulder.

When alone, Erestor tenderly cupped the side of his face, and kissed his brow. An action rather touching as the councillor was not usually one for public displays of affection, even if only in front of their close friend and Lord.

“The mixture you drank will kick in soon, when you wake your leg will be set and in a cast. Then all you will need to worry about, is getting better.” Elrond chuckled when the golden elf grumbled, his voice coming out slightly slurred as the drugs began their work.

“How long?” He mumbled as his eye lids began to droop.

“You will be in a cast for a short while, and resting away from your duties for a few weeks, perhaps three. But worry not, I do not doubt Erestor will be by your side constantly.” He added some what teasingly as Erestor chuckled, knowing the warrior was utterly, and annoying self reliant and would hate depending upon another. Especially him, a thought that he could in a way, understand, but hurt a little also.

He crouched so as to speak into Glorfindel’s ear, “rest now, and you will wake in your chambers. I will make sure the halls are empty when you are carried through.”

Glorfindel wished to thank Erestor at that moment, but could only muster a brief squeeze of his lovers hand, before drifting off into a healing sleep.

****

He had awoken when attempting to roll over, and feeling a dull ache and throbbing down his right side. He blinked away his sleep rather groggily, and lifted the covers to see a cast on his leg, reaching from his toes to his upper thigh. He groaned aloud when realising that it was in fact, as Elrond had said, a bad break.

“Ah, you are awake,”

He looked to bathroom, to see Erestor striding out, with a mug of some sort in his hands, no doubt another batch of foul herbs Elrond had mixed up.

“How do you feel?” He asked as he sat upon the side of the bed, reaching out to smooth back disarray golden locks.

“Do you really need to ask?” He groaned as he tried to make himself comfortable. “Was a full length cast really necessary?”

“Aye, it was,” he spoke, leaning in to kiss his beloveds brow, “you have fractured your knee also, and the bone beneath that was badly out of sorts, so I am afraid that yes, it is necessary.”

“How am I to get about in this thing?”

“You are not, that is why I am here to help.”

“Erestor, I love you, you know this, but do not take offence when I say there are certain things an elf must simply do for himself. If you follow me. Particular things a person may not want his lover seeing.”

Erestor smiled sympathetically, “well you must simply swallow your pride I am afraid, either that or have one of the healing staff tend to you.”

“Well, we will see.” Glorfindel spoke quietly, not liking the thought of Erestor seeing him as anything but what he would usually allow him to.

“You know, you were mumbling in your sleep,” Erestor grinned teasingly.

“Valar, I was? What did I say?”

“Something about a cake,” Erestor chuckled with a shrug, as Glorfindel ran his hands over his face, groaning with a chuckle of his own, “and something about someone called Thor?”

Glorfindel’s hands instantly stilled over his face, his eyes peeked through his fingers to look warily at the elf sat beside him on the bed.

“What did I say about him?”

“It wasn’t really clear, though it was obvious you held great affection for this character.”

Glorfindel cleared his throat rather loudly, and slowly pulled himself into a seated position, “what’s that you have there?” he asked, quickly changing the subject, which Erestor allowed, for now, “not more sleeping draft I hope.”

“It is not a sedative, just something to take away the ache.”

“Thank goodness.” He groaned in self-pity, making Erestor laugh softly.

“Are you going to tell me how this happened?” He asked, indicating to his leg.

“No,” he replied, licking his lips with slight satisfaction. “It does not taste as bitter this time….oh my,” he said as he blinked rapidly, his head feeling light and giddy all of a sudden.

“I snuck some honey in there for you,” Erestor spoke in a low voice and with a secretive wink, and suddenly Glorfindel found himself unable to stop grinning. The effects of the drug were considerably more enjoyable than the previous one.

“Why not? You didn’t fall off your horse did you?”

At this Glorfindel giggled, and Erestor covered his mouth suddenly, surprised and highly amused. Glorfindel never, giggled.

“No I did not fall off my horse,” he spoke indignantly, “silly elf,” he mumbled a moment later.

“Well tell me then, it can not be much more embarrassing than that, surely.”

“Nope, not telling,” Glorfindel replied childishly, the full effect of the pleasant drug leaving him feeling somewhat drunk. “You will get mad.”

“I will not get mad,” Erestor replied, and finding Glorfindel just too adorable at that moment, something he knew Glorfindel would hate, he could not resist kissing the warrior’s cheek.

“But you hate him,”

“Hate who?” Erestor asked with a frown, though kept in mind Glorfindel’s drug induced state.

“Carlen! You hate him,” Glorfindel replied exasperatedly.

“I..I don’t hate him,” Erestor tried to say passively, “I just…”

“I fell in a scuffle,” he said with an exasperated wave of the hand, “trying to protect him whilst he was down, that is how I broke my leg.”

Erestor’s lips tightened, and his shoulders squared, “I see.”

“Argh! You see? You hate him,” Glorfindel replied, flopping his arms down on bed after having inspected his right hand. “You are jealous of him, which is just pointless.”

“I am not jealous,” Erestor guffawed, sputtering and standing from the bed, his hands now firmly set on his hips at such a preposterous suggestion.

“Oh yes you are,” Glorfindel drawled, as if he were talking about the weather, “you are jealous because we were lovers for years. You are jealous because I have more in common with him than I do you, and you are threatened because for some reason, you doubt your….your..” he frowned as he tried to think of the word.

“My own self worth?” Erestor replied quietly, his hands dropping from his hips.

“That’s it!” Glorfindel replied happily, “which is just ridiculous ‘cuz I love you…” his arms opened wide across the width of the bed, “this much.”

Erestor smiled then, finding a more childish Glorfindel endearing.

“In fact come here you….you minx, and I’ll show you how much I love you,” Glorfindel attempted to growl and sit up, momentarily forgetting his cast.

Erestor rolled his eyes, and pushed Glorfindel flat on the bed, “you, rest. I am going to go fetch you some food,”

“Will you feed me?”

Erestor raised a brow, “No more of this mixture for you I think, you would sooner starve than have another feed you.”

“Not if you were naked,” Glorfindel smirked.

Erestor, somewhat surprised from Glorfindel’s forwardness, shook his head, and with a chuckle, stood from the bed.

“I will be back soon, and you will feed yourself, sir.”

Grinning, he closed the bedroom door on the pouting warrior, and went in search for food.

****

Five days, five days he had had to put up with Erestor fussing over him. Five days had Erestor been there in his rooms, constantly tending to his every need. They did not live together, they would always spend their nights together, and would spend what free hours of the day they may have together perhaps, but they had not yet crossed the boundary of sharing a living space. Not until now, at least.

Glorfindel had always known, always hoped that this would one day come to pass, but had been content to explore their relationship further before committing to such a change. Now however, well now Erestor had practically moved himself in.

Erestor had always stored a change of clothes in his wardrobe, which had been fine. And the advisor had always kept a few of his own toiletries in his bathroom, which he alike kept in Erestor’s. This too, had sat well with him. But now, now half of his wardrobe was full of dark elegant robes. His bathroom shelf consisted of his own toiletries contending for dominance with Erestor’s. His desk was strew with papers, and a report Erestor had taken to working on in his rooms whilst he lay in bed, reading. And all this had happened beneath his very nose. And he knew that Erestor had loved every minute, having him all to himself, tending to him, whilst their belongings mingled intimately together.

But perhaps the worst of it all, was having to lay beside Erestor at night, and not being able to make love to him. Now he could understand how making love, whilst in a cast was not possible, or sensible. But there were other ways to…..release tension. But Erestor had as of yet, not felt so inclined as to help ease Glorfindel’s discomfort in this way. He had tried subtly hinting, even not so subtly hinting, but Erestor had at every awkward moment, gone to fetch him a cool glass of water, a piece of fruit, anything to avoid what he knew, made Erestor uncomfortable.

Erestor, was reserved. Unsure, perhaps even coy, but was usually, also very responsive in bed. The dark elf had been inexperienced when they had first began their courtship, and it had been he, who had taken his innocence. But there were still some things that, Erestor still did not yet quite feel confident enough to attempt. Such as dominance, it would always be Glorfindel to make the first move, and it would always be Glorfindel who would have Erestor. And this did not bother the warrior so much, for he was naturally dominating in bed. But now, now that he could not make the first move, could not ease his own frustrations by what was his usual want of slowly thrusting in and out of Erestor’s lithe body. Now, he was left frustrated, unsatisfied, and very edgy.

Erestor sat opposite Glorfindel, eating the meal he had prepared for them, but found he could not fully enjoy it as he cast worried glances across the small table.

“Are you well, Glorfindel?”

“As good as one can be in such circumstances, why?” Glorfindel replied rather shortly, his frustration getting the better of him.

“Well, you have barely touched your food. Does your leg pain you? Would you like…”

“Erestor!” He snapped, and then clapped his mouth shut and closed his eyes in an attempt to calm himself. “I am fine, just..” he sighed, and let his fork fall to his plate with a clang, “I just need to lay down, that is all.” He spoke as he slowly, began to stand.

“Let me help you..” Erestor stood, and reached out to assist him, but recoiled his hands as they were pushed away.

“Damn it Erestor I can make it to the bed by myself!” He growled, and slowly made his way over to the bed, where he sat heavily upon the mattress.

Erestor stood quietly for a moment, shocked at how Glorfindel had spoken to him, before nodding and sitting back down at the small table. Though he found that he too had lost all or any appetite. He watched as Glorfindel made his way slowly to the bed, and sat heavily upon the mattress. Laying down and then bringing an arm across his face as he breathed deeply.

“I ahm…oh,” he spoke looking up from his dish, smiling“ I have I gotten myself into quite a pickle,” he laughed, eager to fill the uncomfortable silence between them.

“How so?” Was the muffled and weary response.

“I rather foolishly told our lady I would assist her in the gardens for a short while tomorrow.”

“Is that so?” Glorfindel asked with genuine interest, though felt guilty a moment later as he realised the only reason he took an interest was because it meant spending a few moments alone. Having the luxury to tend to himself for a while instead of having Erestor help him with every little thing.

“Yes, and I just know that I will catch the sun and burn, it has been rather warm lately…”

“Now that I know only too well,” he moped as he scratched the top of his cast, where his flesh was red and sore form the heat.

“Ah, but your cast comes off tomorrow, if your knee is better. You should be much more mobile and comfortable.” Erestor attempted, speaking with perhaps an annoyingly positive tone. Where in all truth, he simply wished to not displease Glorfindel yet again, which seemed to be all he did lately.

“Aye, though I will still have to wear a new blasted cast over my shin, won’t I?”

“Well, that can not be helped.” Erestor replied a little deflated, looking down at his plate
As he moved the food around with his fork.

Glorfindel looked up from his reclined position, and sighed sadly. He was being impossible, this he knew, he was just so frustrated. Frustrated from not being able to walk twenty paces with out needing a rest, frustrated with his lover being too shy to touch him, frustrated with his lack of control or privacy, and mostly, frustrated and fed up with Erestor seeing him like this.

“Erestor?” He called softly, and felt terrible when the advisor looked up then, and was able to see how nervous he had made him, “I am sorry, I did not mean to snap at you, that was unfair of me.”

Erestor smiled a small smile then, shrugging slightly as he looked back down at his plate. “It’s alright, this must be very difficult for you.”

Glorfindel let the silence hang between them for a few moments, before beckoning Erestor to the bed. “Come to bed?”

Looking up, Erestor scratched the side of his face, and tucked his hair back behind one ear before standing, and making his way to the bed. He undressed quickly, blew out any candles, and assisted Glorfindel with his own clothing, before settling down beside the warrior. It was when they lay in the dark, that it was the most awkward.

“Aren’t you going to come a little closer?” Glorfindel coaxed.

He held his arm out, making room for Erestor, and immediately felt some small comfort in having Erestor against his side. Yet at the same time, felt the tell tale ache in his groin as his lover’s scent invaded his senses, and the feel of his bare flesh made contact with his own.

So it was while he was trying to suppress the images of what he wished to do with Erestor at that moment, that he received quite a shock when feeling Erestor’s hand rather shakily lay across his groin. He gasped, and his blooming erection seemed to grow in an instant from the slightest attention.

“Erestor?” He asked genuinely confused.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” Erestor whispered.

At that moment the palm of the advisor’s hand began to massage his sacks, and the underside of his member. A small groan left his lips, though a frown marred his brow. It was as Erestor’s hand closed around his throbbing length and began to stroke, that with the greatest amount of will power, he stilled that hand.

“What do you mean, ‘what I want?’” he asked almost breathlessly.

“W-well, isn’t it? This is what you’ve been indirectly asking for, isn’t it?”

Glorfindel let out a heavy and clearly agitated sigh, and moved Erestor’s hand away from his groin. He turned his head away, cocking his elbow in the air as he rubbed his brow.

“Glorfindel?” Erestor asked worriedly when he realised that Glorfindel’s body was pulling away from him.

“Erestor,” he spoke at last, turning back to face him in the dark, “I don’t want you to touch me, unless you want to touch me.”

“But, but I do..” he spoke as he let a hand move along Glorfindel’s broad chest unsurely, and like before, was caught by Glorfindel’s own and pushed away.

“No, you don’t. You only do this now because you think I am wroth with you and you wish to make amends.”

“Well that’s just…I mean…”

“Erestor,” Glorfindel interrupted in a genuinely caring voice, “perhaps you should…sleep in your own quarters, tonight.”

“But...I - I don’t understand…”

It was dark, but the hurt he had caused the dark elf was as plain as day, “just for tonight? I think we both need to think a little.”

“I…I was just trying to please you,” his voice shook slightly, and was heavy with threatening tears.

“I know, and that is the problem Erestor.” He spoke softly.

“I don’t understand!” Erestor cried as he sat up.

Glorfindel slowly sat up beside him, and gently reached to stroke the dark elf‘s cheek when hearing his breath catch. “What must I do to please you? Do you wish for me to put my mouth upon you, that‘s it, isn’t it?”

“Erestor,” Glorfindel sighed, and gently ran his fingers through the advisor’s loose hair. “I told you, I just want you to be truthful with me, with yourself.”

“I am!”

“I want you to touch me only when you desire to.”

“I do, I have!”

“Well you have not shown any such desire up until this night, why is that?”

Erestor did not answer, though Glorfindel could tell that he was trying to. When finally he said nothing, Glorfindel, with a sigh, leaned forwards, and pressed a kiss to his temple.

“Just one night Erestor, take this one night to think about it. Come see me tomorrow, before I go to get this cast off.”

Glorfindel closed his eyes, trying to ignore that catches in Erestor’s breath he could hear, as the advisor dressed. He heard the door open, and turned to face it when Erestor spoke.

“I don’t know what it is I‘m doing wrong,” he said sadly, “what if I don’t know what to say to you then, will you turn me away again?”

“No, no I won’t. Good night now, Erestor.”

Erestor’s didn’t answer, and began to close the door behind him.

“Erestor?”

He stood in the door way, holding the door open, listening.

“I love you, you know that, right?”

“I suppose.”

And he closed the door.

****

Glorfindel sat upon the edge of his bed, having washed and cleaned, or as much as he was able to, and now sat in a loose pair of sleeping trousers, and shirt. He thought about the previous night, and how much he had upset and confused Erestor. He felt terrible, but knew he had done the right thing. It would not of been fair to of allowed Erestor to follow through with his intentions, when unsure as to whether it was indeed what Erestor wanted. He hoped Erestor saw that, and he hoped that either on their own, or together they would resolve what troubled Erestor, and what troubled them. For having spent the last five days with him, as annoying as they had been, he now sorely missed not waking with his love.

There was a nock at his door, and he knew who it was.

“Come in, Erestor.” He spoke eagerly.

The door opened slowly, to reveal not his Erestor, but a smiling Carlen in the doorway.

“Oh, hello.” He replied disappointedly.

“Expecting someone else I presume?”

“Yes, I was hoping…”

“That I was Erestor? Yes I had gathered as much, but shouldn’t your sexy little advisor be with you now?” He teased.

Glorfindel unsure how to answer, simply shook his head with a sigh. Worried, Carlen sat beside his friend, and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

“Glorfindel, what is it?”

“I...it’s just that..” He wished to speak to his friend, his former lover, he wished to tell him all that was bothering him, but he couldn’t. He could not speak of Erestor, or rather, about their intimacy problems, to his friend, and more precisely, former lover. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t respectful to Erestor. So he smiled, or did his best to, and simply shook his head.

“’Tis nothing we will not work out.”

Carlen squeezed his shoulder, “alright,” he spoke warmly, “but if you ever wish to talk, well, you know the rest.”

He took a deep breath, and decided a change of subject was in order.

“I suppose I owe you thanks, yet again. You know I’m certain you only put your neck on the line for my sorry self simply to irritate me.”

Glorfindel chuckled, “there’s no fooling you is there?”

“How fares this?” He asked, knocking playfully upon the cast.

“It comes off today,”

“Marvellous!”

“To be replaced by another.”

“Ah.”

“Hmm,”

“Well,” Carlen attempted again, “we have missed our Captain greatly,” he offered, not untruthfully.

Glorfindel smiled, turning to his friend.

“Believe it or not.” Carlen chuckled. “And oh have you missed out these past few days,”

“Do tell,” Glorfindel prompted.

“Well, our youngest comrade has been getting himself into quite a bit of bother,” he chuckled.

“Ai gods, what has Ivern done now?”

“Oh make yourself comfortable, friend of mine, this is a goodly tale..”

****

Ten minutes later, and both elves were in hysterics.

“Y-you actually mean to say that this young maidens father chased him across the courtyard?!”

Carlen was at this point, clutching his stomach, laughing breathlessly. Unable to speak, he simply nodded exasperatedly. Sending Glorfindel into fit of laughter.

“Ai… I can’t believe I missed all that,” Glorfindel spoke breathlessly, and grinned madly. “Speaking of which, why are you only now, visiting me, my so called friend?”

Carlen, still chuckling to himself, frowned at the blond. “Because we were told not to,”

“What? By who?”

“Well you of course! He said that you wished to rest for the time being and that we were not to bother…” Carlen stopped right there, feeling rather stupid when realising he had been mislead. “Uh..”

“Carlen,” Glorfindel asked in a steady voice, “who told you such of thing? Wait, do not tell me,” he closed his eyes and sighed, “Erestor, told you to stay away from me.”

“I..I am sure I simply misunderstood him.”

“I don’t believe this,” he spoke in a low voice.

“No wait Glorfindel, honestly it’s just, I mean it’s understandable, ‘tis my fault that you are in this state to begin with, and giving our history together I can see why…”

“It is not your fault and he had no right!”

And it was at that inopportune moment, that a knock sounded at the door. Carlen hastily stood before Glorfindel who was trying to rise, putting himself between a furious Balrog slayer and unsuspecting advisor, and held out his hands.

“Now just stop to think before you say anything rash, Glorfindel. Honestly I’m sure he meant no great harm, he just..”

“You defend him?!”

“He is just a little insecure, Glorfindel! Just remember that you love him, do not be too harsh on him, not on my account..”

“Glorfindel?” Came the quiet call from the other side of the door.

As Glorfindel tried to side step Carlen, Glorfindel grew inpatient and called out to Erestor. “Come!”

The door opened, and in stepped Erestor. He looked worried, worried and then confused when seeing Carlen standing beside his lover.

“Close the door, Erestor.” Glorfindel spoke in a low voice, as he reached for his crutch.

Doing so, it was with an almost fearful look that Erestor turned back to Glorfindel with a look that really did tear at Carlen’s heart.

“Let’s just cut to the quick here. Erestor, did you tell Carlen, and my men, to not visit me?”

Erestor gave a quick glance to Carlen, and visibly swallowed, “I…I may of, yes.”

Glorfindel nodded, and Carlen stepped aside, and out of the way, rubbing his temples.

“Right, and did you say you were speaking on my behalf?”

“Glorfindel,” Carlen spoke softly, when seeing tears well up in Erestor’s eyes, as the advisor uncomfortably tugged at the hem of his sleeves . But was silenced with a raised hand.

“Answer the question, Erestor.”

“I did, yes. But I only…” He voice came out broken and thick with threatening tears.

“Erestor, what gave you that right? How dare you do such a thing!” He was more saddened than angry, and such a thing seemed to only upset Erestor all the more.

Erestor walked forwards then, beseechingly reaching out for Glorfindel’s hands, but the warrior would have none of it.

“I thought it for the best! I mean…you needed to rest, I was going to take care of you and...”

“I don’t need you take care of me Erestor! I am a grown elf!”

“I..I know but that is what couples do, they take care of one another.”

“What you did was deceitful Erestor, you had no right to speak on my behalf, to send away my friends?” He said in disbelief. “Allowing them to think I did not wish to see them,” he continued, “that is not taking care of me Erestor, that is smothering me!”

“I didn’t mean to, I mean I did but…I just wanted to….to…”

“Take care of me, I know! But you didn’t did you, I mean not in a way a lover could have…”

Carlen, seeing Erestor glance to him, and turn near scarlet, thought it about time for him to leave. “I shouldn’t be here..” he spoke, and made for the door.

“Stay!” Glorfindel shouted, and with a sigh, he stayed put.

Turning back to Erestor, Glorfindel sighed.

“I don’t understand you Erestor. I don’t understand how possessive you can be yet, how unwilling you are to show this in front of others. I don’t understand this unfounded jealousy you hold towards him,” he said with a nod over in Carlen’s direction.

“I mean how many more times can I tell you I love you? I can’t understand why you are so afraid of touching me..” he said softly, but not at all forgivingly, “… or why you won’t do anything of your own accord. You turn my friends away, you practically move yourself into my quarters, even your damn paper work,” he said, gesturing to the scrolls that were still strewn across his desk, “..all without my permission. And you smother me in every other way than perhaps how I need…”

“I am sorry..” Erestor began, his voice unsteady as his dark eyes glistened. “I turned them away because I.… I wanted you to myself.” He admitted, “And I did not realise that, that I was not welcome to…” he walked over to the desk then, and with trembling hands, attempted to tidy up his mess, “I will move it, all of it…”

Glorfindel began to lose some of his anger then, seeing Erestor quickly trying to hide any of his own belongings, and quickly wiping at his eyes as he did so.

“And, as for the last….well,” he looked up then, but at Carlen, not to Glorfindel.

“Yes?”

“Glorfindel, not in front of me,” Carlen spoke, and Glorfindel would of relented, but it was Erestor’s voice that interrupted him.

“He might as well stay.” Erestor spoke sadly. “It’s because of him that…” he flushed again, losing courage.

“What?” Glorfindel asked, not angrily, but imploringly, simply wishing to understand.

Erestor’s shoulders sagged, and he blinked against the tears that threatened to fall. “How am I to compare to him?” he asked quietly, limply gesturing to the other elf.

Glorfindel closed his eyes tightly and sat upon the side of the bed. “I don’t believe this,”

Carlen simply regarded the younger elf with surprise, having had no idea how much it was Erestor had been intimidated by him.

“I mean you’re my first…” he glanced to Carlen again, embarrassed. And spoke again in a barely audible, and strained voice. “You are my first love, and I….I don’t know what it is I‘m suppose to…” He chin began to tremble, and he swallowed visibly.

“I try to make you laugh, Glorfindel. But you never laugh as you do when he jests with you. I try to take care of you, and I am smothering you.” He said helplessly.

“I don’t know how to please you in…in that way, I just…” he said with a small shrug, and looked to Carlen, who at that moment showed nothing but sympathy for the darkling. “I will never be him. I am not the elf you would risk your life for.”

“That is nonsense!” Glorfindel cried, not so much angry now, but saddened. “Erestor, we are soldiers, this is our life! Is that what is angering you? That I care for him so much that I would die for him?”

“No! It is that you care for him so much that you would die without a second thought as to leaving me here alone!”

All were quiet after hearing the sudden admission, none of them knowing quite what to say. Eventually, it was Erestor who broke the silence, his voice heartbreakingly crushed.

“I’m sure Carlen will not mind taking you to the healing halls, it would probably be best if..”

“Whoa, wait a minute Erestor,” Glorfindel interrupted, “I’m not going anywhere until this is resolved.” He said with an air

“No,” he shook his head, “I should just go.”

By now Erestor was walking about the room, gathering a few of his belongings and papers as he went. “What is there to resolve? I have made an utter mess of this, just as I knew I would!” He spoke, and to himself mainly, with a self loathing that was obvious to all.

“This is not all down to you Erestor, and it can be fixed.”

Erestor, now ignoring Glorfindel turned to Carlen once more, “make sure you put honey in his herbs and mixture, he does not like the taste. And there are a few books I set aside for him in the library that you can come and collect, he gets bored doing nothing all day, he‘ll like them.”

“Alright let’s - let’s just stop and think for a second,” Glorfindel said, annoyed that he was being ignored. And rather ungracefully, he attempted to rise and to reach for Erestor’s wrist, but caught nothing but thin air.

“All my things will be out of here by the time you return,” he spoke quietly, feeling somewhat ashamed at his own actions.

He turned as he opened the chamber door, wanting to just somehow, say how sorry he was. “I..” He faced Glorfindel, trying to convey the sincerity of his words, “I truly am sorry, for telling your colleagues to not come, and for, for not…acting appropriately.”

“Erestor, I told you I would not turn you away, not after last night. And I meant it, come on, please, come back here..” He implored, a hand outstretched and gesturing him over.

“No I - I just want to go,” his voice hitched slightly, and quickly, with the few items he held, he left the rooms.

“Erestor..” Glorfindel called, hobbling to the door, but he’d already left.

He turned, leaning on his crutch, and glanced over to Carlen, who looked equally guilty, or sad, he wasn’t sure.

“I had no idea.”

“I did,” Glorfindel admitted, “I just, didn’t know how much…” he sighed, “what am I to do?”

Carlen approached his old friend, and rested his hands heavily across Glorfindel’s shoulders. “You are going to the healing wing, and you will have your new cast put on. You will give Erestor a little time to himself, then you will go to him later, and you will resolve this.”

“It was never this hard with you, Carlen.” Glorfindel whispered.

“Of course it wasn’t, and that is because, my dear friend, we were not meant to be. It was all to easy with us because, because we were simply friends who loved each other, we were never lovers who were in love, no mater how we tried to fool ourselves into thinking so.”

Glorfindel sat there, taking it all in, and knew that what Carlen spoke was true, though it did little to ease his mind. He shook his head, “walk with me down to the wing?”

“Of course, come on, lets get this thing off of you.”

****

It was after having seen a worryingly depressed Glorfindel back to his rooms, new cast and all, that Carlen went now in search for Erestor. He had been unsuccessful in his search so far, having been to Erestor’s rooms and office, and finding no trace of him. And it was by chance, late that afternoon, that he spotted Erestor from where he stood upon one of the many balconies. The advisor in question, was at that moment crouching by the rose bushes in one of the gardens.

It was their Lady that spotted him first as he entered the gardens. She smiled pleasantly, and called in greeting, and it was then that Erestor became aware of his presence also. Seeing Erestor’s less than ecstatic greeting, one that had matched the advisor’s mood greatly that day, that the lady stood, taking her basket with her, and discreetly left them alone.

“Have you been out here all afternoon?” He asked, crouching beside Erestor, and taking a pair of shears in hand he experimentally clipped the air.

“Mostly, why?” His voice was not resentful, nor hostile as Carlen may of expected. But was quite respectful, though of a depressingly flat tone, similar to his injured friend.

Erestor flinched back in surprise as Carlen tapped the tip of his nose.

“You’ve caught the sun,” he smiled, gesturing to the advisor’s bare shoulders also.

“I tend to burn.” Erestor replied, turning back to his upturned soil.

Carlen sighed, and looking about the garden, he then sat cross legged besides Erestor. The only indication as to whether his company was wanted, being the brief agitated side glance he received as he sat.

“I came to talk a while with you, I hope you do not mind. You can carry on with what you’re doing if it would so please you.”

“Speak if you wish, I am here to plant flowers.”

“I wish to speak of Glorfindel and I, could you bare to listen? For I think my words would gladden you at the end, rather then dishearten you.”

“I told you to speak, did I not?” Erestor replied with a little more edge to his voice as he rather violently pulled up a weed, or what Carlen hoped was a weed.

“Yes, but I do need you to listen, Erestor.”

Erestor sighed, pulled off his gloves and sat upon the grass much alike to the warrior beside him. He looked down into his lap as he toyed with his gloves. “Speak then, I am listening.”

“Has Glorfindel ever spoke of our past relationship at all?”

“Only that you were together for a number of years, that you were content, and that he held great affection for you, he still does, that much is obvious.”

“Aye, as I do him, and what he has told you is true, though he has left much out. I suspect however, that he did not deem it necessary to tell you.”

“Tell me what, exactly?”

Carlen sighed, pulled the gloves from Erestor’ hands and set them aside so as to hold Erestor’s reluctant palms in his own. “He left me for you, did he tell you that much?”

Erestor’s eyes met his own, and it was immense sadness he saw there. “No, he - he did not, I am so sorry I never knew..”

“Do not be sorry, for I am not.” He smiled, “oh you are a sweet one,” and could not help but reach out to gently touch the advisor‘s cheek. “It was the right thing to do. I will not deny that I shed many tears over our parting. But only a few were for myself, the rest were for him, and they were of joy, I swear to you.”

“I don’t quite understand,”

Carlen ran his thumbs over Erestor’s knuckles, which had become mucky despite the wearing of gloves. “It did not feel right between us Erestor.” He frowned as he thought back upon his relationship with the Captain. “There were no fights, no jealousy, just sex and immense friendship, if I were to be frank with you.”

“Frankness has always been a great bane of mine,” Erestor admitted with an uncomfortable clearing of the throat.

“Is it not everyone’s?” Carlen spoke as he released Erestor’s hands.

“I don’t understand how it is you did not crumble, by being left by him, I would surely..”

“Oh Erestor,” he spoke affectionately, “it is because I did not, that only proved to myself and the both of us further that we were doing the right thing.”

“Still, I feel, a guilt over having come between..”

“Honestly, Erestor? That just makes me like you all the more.” And he was glad to see Erestor smile, if not a little apprehensively.

“And it was no great shock to me either, for I knew that he loved you, even before he did. Ai it was when he very first saw you Erestor!” He grinned. “He was so love sick, but hid it from me, thinking himself unfaithful. He is a tender hearted one, when he is not being stubborn or foolish.”

“He has his moments.” Erestor shrugged slightly.

“We were, too comfortable, Erestor. And now, I can only say that I am thankful that he had the courage to end it. For now he has his love, and I am free to find my own.”

“I am not quite sure where we stand anymore, Carlen.”

“You know, I can see why he adores you so.” And Carlen grinned at how the darkling conceded to the compliment with a small smile and blush, “you stand beside each other, that is where. Can you now, see why this hate you hold for me..”

“I never hated you,” Erestor quickly corrected, “I just, you intimidate me Carlen,” Erestor smiled, “or you did.”

“I am glad, I hope you may even one day come to like me,”

“I think that may be quite possible.” Erestor laughed briefly then, seeing Carlen beam so.

“And…as for everything else that has happened, well, that is none of my business. But you know now, yes? To not let mine and Glorfindel’s friendship or past, come between what the two of you have now.”

Erestor smiled thankfully, “If he is still speaking to me, I shan’t.”

“Good, good.” He said, before getting to his feet. “I shall now let you get back to your planting and so on. Just know that there is a very sulky warrior we both know and love sitting alone in his chamber right now, moping like a child without his favourite toy.”

Erestor nodded, “thank you for coming to me, you did not have to.”

“Think nothing of it, my friend.” Carlen began to walk away, but turned back upon hearing his name called by Erestor.

“Carlen?” he called as he got to his feet, “I was wondering if you would do just one more thing for me?”

****

Having stared up at his ceiling for more than an hour now, and having thought of Erestor until his heart might bleed, Glorfindel now pondered on whether to paint his ceiling a different shade in his boredom. Hearing a knock at his door, he knew exactly who it was and was glad for the interruption in his thoughts of colour schemes.

“Come in, Carlen.”

And of course, in stepped Erestor.

“Erestor!” Glorfindel spoke, sitting up at once.

“Glorfindel,” he spoke softly, loitering near the door. “Am I welcome?”

“Erestor,” Glorfindel breathed in exasperation, and almost franticly waved him over to the bed as he stood with a little more grace then he had been able to that morn.

“Oh you’re new cast, is it….” he was cut off as Glorfindel pulled him into his arms, squeezing the very life out of him.

Recovering from his shock, he smiled into the crook Glorfindel’s neck, and despite his being crushed at that moment, managed somehow to return the embrace.

“I’m not letting you out of here again, never.” He spoke emotionally as he began to spread kisses to the side of Erestor’s brow, unwilling to relinquish his hold. “Never.”

“Glorfindel,” Erestor chuckled softly, and managed to pull away far enough to at least gain eye contact.

“No I mean it, I thought that, I mean when you gathered your things and…oh I never meant for half of the things I said to come out as they did Erestor.”

“I think,” Erestor spoke, gently caressing the warrior’s cheek with the pad of his thumb, “that we should sit, and talk for a while.” He coaxed Glorfindel to sit once more upon the bed, but was met with some small resistance.

“Just..” Glorfindel began, and Erestor thought at that moment, that he had never seen Glorfindel look so unsure. So, vulnerable. “..just tell me you are not leaving, first.”

“I am not leaving,” he reassured, and was surprised than to see for the first time, tears well up in the warrior‘s eyes. “I’m not leaving you, Glorfindel.” He spoke again, and swallowed when seeing Glorfindel smile, let out a deep breath as he closed his eyes, and allow a single tear to escape his vision.

They sat upon the bed, and they spoke about much. Erestor relinquished his fears, telling of them all, and telling of all he now knew. And Glorfindel, with the reassurance of Erestor’s hand upon his heart as they reclined side by side, explained his ways, shared his worries, and in turn they were answered and, with Erestor’s new courage, they were faced.

They had lain that way for how long, they did not know. Talking had ceased some time before, and now they were lying, face to face, sharing the occasional kiss and few words. Glorfindel’s face had fallen however and turned into a frown of annoyance, when yet another knock sounded at the door.

“I will send them away,” Glorfindel whispered as he rose. But with a hand pressed to his chest was told to stay where he was.

“Nay, I shall let them in.”

“Erestor,” Glorfindel caught his hand as he stood, “I wish only to be with you tonight.”

“Mm,” Erestor hummed, and pressed a soft kiss upon his lovers lips, “and you will be, but you’re men have not seen you in a while, and I do have quite a backlog to see to, after looking after your sorry self for the past week,” he jested, he moved from within Glorfindel’s grasp.

The warrior sat with a curious smile upon his lips as Erestor opened the door, he stretched his neck to see who was there, and grinned when seeing no other than Ivern, Carlen, and the two other guards who had accompanied him to healing wing when first injured.

“Come in, his Lordship is lounging in bed, I shall raise him,” he heard Erestor speak, and he quickly stood from the bed.

“Glorfindel, ‘tis good to see you up and about, in a manner of speaking,” one spoke.

“Captain we have missed your drillings and barking voice!” Another spoke. And sharing a wicked grin, both Ivern and Carlen held up a bottle of wine in each hand, each with an identically mischievous grin.

“We come baring gifts,” Carlen spoke.

Laughing, and all together surprised and delighted, Glorfindel waved his comrades in. “In, come in,”

“Your glasses Glorfindel, where are they?” Asked Ivern, for once forgetting to call Glorfindel by his station.

“In the sitting room, Carlen knows the way.”

In they came, and after a brief pat of the shoulder and ruffling of hair from each, he watched them make themselves very much at home as they travelled into the sitting room. And there he could hear the clinking of glass as his drinks cabinet was raided, and the sound of merriment already filling the room.

“We brought cards Glorfindel,” called one,

“I am terrible at cards,” he called back, still looking with mild astonishment to Erestor.

“Precisely!” Another called, and laughter drifted from the connected room. “Are the two of you going to join us or not?”

“Not I, thank you, I have work to do. But make merry in my absence and try to have this one in one piece when I return.” He called, as he came to stand before Glorfindel, wrapping his arms loosely about is middle.

“This was very thoughtful of you,” Glorfindel murmured.

“I know,” Erestor teased. “Kiss me now, and I will be back in a few hours.”

Sharing a sweet kiss, Glorfindel reluctantly released his hold of Erestor, and with a gentle push towards the sitting room, went to join his companions. As Erestor left, it was to the sound of laughter…

“So Ivern, I heard you ran into a bit of trouble in the courtyard?”

****

It was late into the evening when Erestor returned, and removing his outer robes he grinned when hearing laugher still drifting in from the sitting room. Opening the connecting door, he quietly let himself in to see all five elves seated at the table, with a hand of cards each, and half full glasses of wine upon the table.

“Erestor,” greeted Carlen, “you are back.”

Glorfindel smiled and held out a hand to Erestor, which he readily took, and was surprised as the warrior then pulled him into his lap. He chuckled as he shifted his weight - making sure so as not to sit upon Glorfindel’s healing leg - and placed a hand over the larger one that lay over his waist.

“Darkling you must help me, I’m losing my shirt here.” Glorfindel spoke, showing his cards to Erestor.

“He is rather terrible, Erestor.”

“You know, being injured, and your Captain no less, surely you should be letting me win?” Glorfindel spoke, though despite his scowling, his high spirits were clear to see. And Erestor smiled to himself when the arm around his middle tightened as the warrior leaned forwards to pick up a new card.

“It’s a little late isn’t it?” Asked Erestor, though was willing to indulge his lover.

“Alright,” he sighed, leaning forwards himself, to pick up a new card as he selected one from Glorfindel’s hand to discard, “I will help you with this hand, but you must then tell me who this ‘Thor’ is.”

From the corner of his eye he saw Carlen’s gaze go wide, and before he could comment he was being shimmied off of the warrior’s lap with a pat to the behind.

“Goodnight boys, time for us to turn in,”

“T-Thor?” Carlen began to chuckle, and Glorfindel was already plucking the glasses from his groaning companions hands, urging them to get up and get out.

“Carlen, who is it?” Erestor chuckled from behind Glorfindel where the warrior attempted to keep him out of view from Carlen.

“Thank you for the wine and I will see you again soon, good night now,” Glorfindel spoke rather loudly.

When virtually shoved out of the door, Carlen called loudly through the pine, “Erestor! Think ‘childhood companion!’” The laughter in the hallway subsided as it became father away. And Glorfindel turned back to his lover, to see him with his hand over his mouth, and shoulders shaking. He cringed.

“Y-you had a bear?”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“A bear?” He laughed.

“It’s going to be slow and painful too.” Glorfindel grumbled in mock anger, as he limped over to the bed.

“Oh Glorfindel, how sweet!” Erestor teased as he climbed upon the bed after Glorfindel who tried to hide beneath his pillow.

After much prompting, he still unable to coax Glorfindel from beneath his pillow. Erestor found himself having to vouch to never to bring up Thor again, before the warrior would roll over and face him.

Erestor had continue to giggle despite his vow, and had only been quietened by Glorfindel’s kisses. Sweet kisses became not so sweet, deeper, and more demanding as their breath grew short. It was Erestor who pulled away, with lips swollen, and panting at the feel of Glorfindel’s hands beneath his leggings, squeezing his behind, a cheek in each palm.

“Is ah…your leg, are you allowed to…?”

Glorfindel groaned, and pulled his hands from beneath his lovers leggings and affectionately patted his behind instead, “afraid not sweet one, no great muscle tension until this new cast comes of in a few days.”

“Well, I’m sure we’ll survive,” Erestor spoke, and whilst biting his lip mischievously, he rolled Glorfindel onto his back.

“Erestor?” Glorfindel asked warily, smiling but with a raised brow.

“Why don’t we get rid of some of that tension right now?” He asked sultrily, as he carefully straddled Glorfindel’s lap, and with a dim flush to his own cheeks, opened the front of the blond’s shirt to reveal a sculptured golden chest.

“Are…are you sure?” He was growing excited already, his erection now throbbing inside of his leggings as Erestor began to tug at the laces of his breeches.

And then the tugging stopped, Erestor leaned over him, and tilted Glorfindel’s chin up so as to be looking him directly in the eye.

“Glorfindel, let me make it clear, that this is utterly, and completely, just for me.”

Glorfindel’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, as Erestor’s lips travelled the length of his throat and chest. His hands gently cupped the back of his dark head, and he moaned and mewled small sounds of encouragement as Erestor came inline with his now engorged arousal.

His hands gripped at the bed sheets, near to tearing them as his mouth hung open in an ‘O’ shape. He moaned loudly as Erestor’s sweet, inexperienced lips, slowly worked up and down the length of his cock. He couldn’t watch, the sight of Erestor’s lips, red and moist, stretched around his member had been too much, and he found himself close to coming when having only just begun. He did not guide the back of Erestor’s head, for he found that his grip soon became too tight in those dark tresses. He lay there, shallowly thrusting his hips in and out of Erestor warm and wet mouth, moaning inarticulate words of ecstasy.

When he came, he shouted Erestor’s name, he bellowed, and cried out his pleasure was that intense. His sweetheart had tried to swallow his seed, but after days of pent up lust, he drew back with a splutter, and allowed the rest of Glorfindel’s hot seed to splash against his stomach.

When next he managed to open his eyes, Erestor had crawled up the length of his body, and now leaned above him smugly. And he was glad, so glad to not see any worry or self doubt in those dark eyes. There was no question as to whether he had pleased him or not, but there was a look or pure satisfaction, at having made him arch and writhe so. With a growl, he had quickly had carefully turned Erestor onto his back, and promptly divested him of his own clothes.

****

He lay with Erestor in his arm, utterly satisfied and content. His hand skimmed over the smooth skin of Erestor’s back, as he continued to press sweet lingering kisses to his pink tinged cheeks, just beneath his long dark lashes.

He smiled, however, when realising that the colour that touched Erestor’s cheeks, was not from passion alone.

“You caught the sun today,” he spoke in an impossibly soft and tender voice.

“Mmhm,” Erestor murmured sleepily, his eyes closed, as he lay completely content in strong arms.

A laugh rumbled low in his throat as his hands touched one of Erestor’s small shoulders, that he noticed was also burnt. “Here too.”

“Mm,” Erestor opened his eyes, which always seemed darker to Glorfindel after having just spent his passion.

“I love your shoulders,” he murmured more to himself than anything, but smiled when hearing Erestor giggle. “Are they a little sore?”

Erestor nodded, smiling adoringly up at the warrior, knowing what was to come.

“Do you need your medicine?” Glorfindel asked with a grin.

“I believe so.” He grinned, dimples showing in his cheeks.

Glorfindel, with a hand behind Erestor’s shoulder blade, hunched the advisor’s shoulder towards him, and spread soft kisses over where Erestor had caught the sun. Erestor giggled, he could not help but do so. And as he thread his hand into Glorfindel’s golden hair, he murmured to himself.

“Sunburn kisses.”

The End.