Ode to A Sun Burn

Title: Ode to a sun burn.
Author: Fishy (fishyz9@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG13
Notes: I own nothing, not beta’d, no clear plot, lol.
Summary: They fancy each other, nothing else to it really.
Further notes: Not a serious fic, just an ode to my sunburn. I was asleep on our sun bed in the garden, in the shade I might add. And my arm fell from my side into the sun. I have one burning red arm, and one pasty British arm.

Ode to a sunburn


Erestor grimaced as he leaned back in his seat, and, in what he hoped seemed nothing but casual, sat straight again to avoid the brutal friction between back, robe and pine. His small hiss went unnoticed by most, but not all, and caching the flicker of concerned blue eyes, he found himself wishing the meeting would be adjourned as soonest as possible.

“That’s all for now.”

A small sigh of relief left his lips unbidden and, glancing to his Lord, he gave a slight nod of thanks, ignoring the pitying but not unkind smirk he received in reply. He gathered his papers together quickly, rolling them up and tucking them under one arm as he followed the last of the council members out of Elrond’s office. A gentle hand upon his shoulder stopped him short however, and now alone, turning to his old friend he grumbled miserably.

“Poor friend, you are still sore.” Elrond observed, “you needn’t of come you know.”

“Are you saying you do not need me?” Erestor queried haughtily, knowing that of course he was.

“Not with the more trivial matters, no,” at Erestor’s surprised look he laughed good naturedly and very gently patted his shoulder, chuckling at the glare he received for both his remarks and touch. “Oh Erestor, you do amuse me so.”

“Oh don’t,” he groaned, “I feel foolish enough.” As Elrond’s grin split wider he had to smile a little himself. “I’m just plain ridiculous, aren’t I?” He asked, holding his free hand out to his side and looking down at himself.

“You’re nothing of the sort,” Elrond shook his head as he weaved his way through the empty seats and returned to his desk, bending to open a draw and then scribbling something down on the parchment found within, “ If anything I think you’re the most endearing friend I have.” Standing straight he walked back towards the door and Erestor, and handed him the small sheet of paper.

Erestor read the familiar writing on the paper but looked up sharply at the unexpected touch to his hair. Smiling softly, Elrond tucked back a long, stray strand of pitch dark hair, and gazed appreciatively for a moment upon Erestor’s fair - if not slightly pink face.

“You needn’t of come today,” he repeated, standing closely to Erestor, before taking a step back and seating himself behind his desk comfortably. “You only felt well enough to rise from your bed yesterday,” he spoke in exasperation.

Tucking the paper away Erestor once again adopted his all to familiar haughty air, causing Elrond to grin ruefully as this one, dark haired, confounded elf. “I’m never ill Elrond, you know that. It’s inconvenient and tedious.”

“You had sun stroke!” He all but guffawed.

“Yes, well, I’m better now.”

“Hence why you could not sit still this morning.”

Erestor sighed agitatedly and placed his hand upon the door handle, “Maybe I just found you boring.”

Elrond snorted and closing his eyes, and sighing, he shook his head, “you are so rude”

“So,” was Erestor’s snobbish remark, though his small grin showed that he merely teased.

“So…” Elrond drawled, “think how much easier you could make things for yourself, not to mention your skin, if you just told him that..”

Before Elrond could finish his words Erestor had squinted his eyes closed and quickly raised his hands to his ears. “No no, no!” He raised his voice, “just.. Shush. Shush right now.” Taking a peek at Elrond’s familiar, resigned, amused look, he lowered his hands to his sides, readjusting the papers under his arm and sighed.

“Why?” Elrond prodded gently.

“Because,” Erestor stressed, grimacing at how close to a whine his voice sounded.

“Because?” Elrond grinned, “dear gods I’ve never known anyone to put you in such a sorry state in all the time I’ve known you, because what?”

Heaving a heavy sigh, Erestor grew uncharacteristically quiet for a moment, taking the papers from under his arm and twisting them in his hands as he stood before Elrond‘s desk. “Because,” he said more firmly, yet less amused, slowing wiping the grin from Elrond’s face. “What if he laughs?”

It was so spoken so softly, and with such a genuinely worried gleam in those lovely dark eyes that Elrond leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk and spoke in an equally soft tone. “Oh Erestor,”

“What if I tell him and… and without meaning to, he laughs?” he shrugged.

“Do you really think Glorfindel would laugh at you?”

He sighed, “no he’s too.. no, I suppose not. But what if he finds the idea odd, or amusing?” He closed his eyes, cringing. “What if he’s flattered and finds it sweet. What if he’s flattered and just feels sorry for me?”

Elrond was quiet for a moment, not dismissing those words but contemplating them, for that could be a possibility. So then he put forth another possibility to Erestor, the only one he could.

“What if he doesn’t?”

At Erestor’s quick, hopeful glance, he continued. “You may very well take him by surprise, he might feel initially awkward, but what if all it takes is a few words, for him to suddenly see you in a new light, to think of you and, wonder what it would be like?”

Erestor stroked his hand gingerly across the back of his neck, worrying his bottom lip in though, “you think?”

Elrond smiled. “Yes, I think.”

“hmm,” Erestor mumbled, “maybe,” after a moment, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a hefty sigh, he rolled his shoulders, wincing as he did so, and groaned, “I could never breath a word of this to anyone else but you, you know.”

Caught off guard, Elrond smiled. “Thank you,”

“wasn’t a compliment, I just meant you’re nosey.”

Elrond laughed aloud, “get back to work.”

Erestor smiled, and headed out of the office.

“Don’t forget to make a stop at the healing wing today,” Elrond spoke to the councillor‘s retreating back, grinning secretly, “and if you feel queasy then just lay down for a bit,” and just as Erestor was about to close the door behind him.. “oh and Erestor,” he waited to catch Erestor’s eye. “Think about it.”

Nodding, Erestor closed the door.

***

Now in his the comfort of his own rooms, Erestor sat upon the edge of his bed, feet bare and in dark leggings only, as he read the label and directions on the small jar of ointment he had picked up at the healing wing earlier that day. He had stood patiently, ignoring the tittering he could hear from the staff when glancing at his pink cheeks, probably made even more so by the embarrassment he felt for even being there. Other elves went to the healing wing for broken bones, gashes, wounds from serving and protecting their valley, to give birth. But oh no, not him. He had sun burn.

“Massage a small amount of cream,” he read, “gently, four times a day into the groin or area of strain-” he paused, “what?”

Just then there was a nock at his door, his brows furrowed as he wondered who it was who would be calling upon him at this time in the evening. It wasn’t exactly late, but then again he wasn’t exactly used to visitors in his own rooms at this time of day.

Standing from his bed he picked up his shirt that had been laying across the back of his dressing table chair. It wasn’t a favourite of his, in fact he felt rather self conscious in such extravagance. It was a gift, though he could not recall from whom. It was a lovely cream colour, that fastened up too low for his taste, but most importantly, it was silk. Soft, cool silk that his sensitive back appreciated. Slipping his arms into the arm holes, he didn’t bother to close any clasps, and walking through his small sitting room, he simply popped his head around the corner of his door to see who was there. And nearly swallowed his tongue in surprise.

“Glorfindel!” He squeaked, and cleared his throat, “Glorfindel,” that was better, “what can I do for you?”

“Erestor, hello dear Erestor,” he smiled, smothering the grin he felt lurking at the corner of his lips at the squeak in the advisor’s voice. “I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time?” At Erestor’s bewildered look he smiled affectionately and clarified, “are you busy?”

“Oh! No, no not at all,” Erestor replied, then cringed at how very un-busy he sounded. “I mean,” he looked back over his shoulder as if to assess how busy he might have been, and then back at Glorfindel, “come on in.”

Standing in the middle of the councillor’s sitting room - quite a quaint sitting room he thought to himself - he opened his mouth to speak but was suddenly stopped short by the image of the elf before him.

“What?” Erestor asked a little self consciously, and then glanced down at himself and as quick as a flash, and with a muttered curse, drew his shirt about him.

Glorfindel smiled, a little surprised, he licked his bottom lip and realised he’d forgotten what he was going to say. ‘he looks nice’ he thought innocently. “Um,”

Erestor was a little flushed he noticed, actually he had notice that earlier today, but his cheeks seemed a little pinker this evening.

“Caught the sun a little I see,”

“Oh, “ Erestor sighed, embarrassed. “Yes a little,” and he jumped ever so slightly, when Glorfindel stepped forwards and gently tapped the end of his nose - which was also pink. He was at a loss as to what to make of such a thing until he noticed Glorfindel’s almost coy expression, and felt himself smiling hesitantly in return. It had been a small - if not odd -sign of affection he supposed.

“I um,” Erestor cleared his throat, “I thought I‘d have a little lie out in the sun the other day,” he shrugged in embarrassment.

“Oh dear,” Glorfindel laughed compassionately, “hope the burn isn’t too bad, I just thought you looked a little pink to be honest.”

“Well, I am a little sore but, I’ll live.”

There was a quiet moment and Erestor suddenly exclaimed, “can I get you something? Would you like a drink or…?”

Glorfindel, a little surprised, nodded his thanks, and made himself comfortable the divan just before the cosy looking hearth. He watched as Erestor poured two drinks, and swallowed when noticing how Erestor’s shirt fell open as he carried the two glasses over. He guiltily snapped his gaze away from Erestor’s bare chest- why he felt guilty he didn’t know. Perhaps because his gaze simply wasn’t drawn by the pink burn, but because he had been admiring, also.

“Thank you,” as soon as he took the drink, Erestor’s free hand quickly fastened together a single clasp so as not to worry about exposing himself.

They sat side by side, and Glorfindel’s gaze flickered from the councillor’s nervous, but kind expression, to the opening of his shirt. “So um,” he cleared his throat, just as Erestor had done earlier to rid himself of an embarrassing squeak, he did to so that his voice would not sound quite so gravely, or if he would admit it to himself, husky.

“So,” he began again, “how did you ah.. I mean what brought on the desire to..” he gestured to the advisor’s neck and bellow.

“Oh I, well I though I’d get a bit of sun, that it would be good for me,” he took a sip of from his glass, speaking almost too quietly for Glorfindel to hear, “like you suggested,”

“I suggested?” Glorfindel asked, frowning. And then recollection of their brief conversation from a few days ago hit him. “Oh yes,”

***

He had passed by Erestor’s office, coincidently he told himself, and had tapped on the door before quietly letting himself in. Erestor had grunted for whoever it was to come in, but had not looked up from his desk.

“Lovely day, isn’t it?” He had asked, and was a little surprised when Erestor’ head had shot up at the sound of his voice, and an almost nervous smile had spread across his lips.

“Oh, hello Glorfindel, yes, yes I suppose it is.”

“So why do you sit in here when most others are outside enjoying the sunshine?”

“Oh, well,” he smiled, gesturing - quill still in hand- to the scrolls upon his desk “work and so on, you know,” he shrugged. And Glorfindel had been struck then at what a kind smile Erestor tended to have, though if he thought about it, the advisor more often then not seemed to be all business, not unapproachable, but busy and important, to others at least. He did not connect right then that this didn’t seem to apply to him.

“Why don’t you join me?”

Erestor had blinked then, and an endearing, almost delighted smile spreading across his face, “me join you?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” Glorfindel answered happily, “we’re out on the lawn,” the advisor’s smile faltered slightly.

“We?”

“Just a few fellows and I, relaxing on the lawn, watching the elfling’s chase each other, it’s such a lovely afternoon.”

“Ahm, well” he rubbed his neck, and seeing that Erestor did not seem as eager as he had a moment ago, Glorfindel thought to prompt him further.

“Oh come, Valar knows you could use a bit of colour!”

Erestor’s smile seemed no way near as bright, in fact it was nothing more then one of politeness.

“Ah, no. No, but thank you, I think I should get on.”

Disappointed, Glorfindel sighed, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, thank you though.”

***

“Oh,” Glorfindel frowned in confusion, “Oh!” Placing his glass down, Glorfindel turned to a now nervous looking Erestor. “I hope you… you didn’t take anything I said as a criticism, did you, Erestor?”

Erestor smiled uncomfortably, and waved a had nonchalantly, “ of course not.”

“Because really, I just wanted you to join me, there was nothing more to my words. I just wanted your company.”

Serious now, Erestor looked away from the floor, and into earnest blue eyes, “why?” he asked quietly, barely believing his own daring words.

Looking rather startled himself, Glorfindel fumbled with his words for a moment, “why? I.. well I was walking past your office and, and I though..”

Erestor nodded, “you were being kind, as is your nature,” his smile was almost besotted, “you saw me working away on my own and…”

“No,” Glorfindel frowned, thinking, “no I think I..” he met dark eyes, and spoke in a hushed voice, “I just wanted to be around you, I think.” He swallowed, realising how serious the conversation had become and suddenly laughed loudly, startling Erestor and himself, and not really knowing why. He fell quiet again, and they shared a strained, heavy moment.

“So um,” he cleared his through, and looked down at his hands that knotted together. They both sat upon the divan, his elbows rested on his thighs and his knees were nearly touching Erestor’s he realised. “So, how bad is it?”

“Well,” Erestor stood then, if only to compose himself. “The front’s not too bad,”

“Front looks good,” Glorfindel muttered, and then catching Erestor’s surprised look he felt a tinge of embarrassment and clarified. “I mean you don’t look too bad, you’re chest that is, it looks nice, I mean fine, I mean..!,” Erestor quirked one eyebrow, and to the councillor’s amusement Glorfindel stood and rushed to further explain himself.

“I mean,” Glorfindel stuttered uncharacteristically, “that the burn doesn’t look too bad, there” he pointed, and felt stupid, “on your chest.”

Erestor smiled, and laughed softly, “alright.” And to his amusement the warrior seemed to dig himself deeper.

“I mean I don’t know how bad it is or how far down it goes..” and catching himself looking along the line of Erestor’s waist he quickly closed his lids and brought his gaze back to eyelevel, and was mildly relieved to see that Erestor was smiling bemusedly at him, and was not appalled or affronted.

He groaned, and bit his lower lip as he squinted one of his eyes closed. “Bet you didn’t know how tongue tied I can get, did you?”

“No,” Erestor chuckled, and a moment later uttered, “I find it rather endearing.”

Glorfindel glanced at him, and Erestor seemed to stand as still as stone until one corner of Glorfindel’s lips quirked upwards.

“You want to see a really bad burn?” Erestor grinned, breaking the tension.

Erestor turned and with a shift of his shoulder, the shirt slid away to expose his red neck and further.

“I’m sure it’s not that ba- DEAR GODS ERESTOR!”

Erestor chuckled and nodded, looking over his shoulder he saw Glorfindel wide eyed and with his fist curled in front of his mouth.

“Oh Erestor,” he smile sympathetically, he stepped forwards and held his hand just above the angry red flesh. “I can practically feel the heat radiating off of you,” he said absently.

“Does it hurt?” He asked gently, noticing how close he had come to stand behind Erestor.

Erestor contemplated lying, putting on a brave face, but decided to simply groan and laugh at himself. “Yes!” He chuckled, “Valar it stings.”

Glorfindel shook his head, and gently eased the shirt from the advisor’s shoulders, at Erestor’s questioning look he said, “It’s best for you to not wear much at all I think, not even this,” he meant the shirt which he draped over the back of a chair. “As lovely a it is.”

Now feeling exposed Erestor made to turn around but two hands on his shoulder kept him where he was as Glorfindel continued to gawk.

“I’ve never seen someone so burnt, you’re practically charred.”

“I guess so,” Erestor laughed, and there was a definite nervous tremor to it.

“Oh Erestor,” he grinned, and shook his head, “you’re skin,”

“I just wanted a bit of colour, I’m quite pale and I thought I might look better if..”

“Since when do you care what others think about your appearance?”

“I don’t,” he answered truthfully.

“It was just what you said, I know it was an innocent suggestion but..” he was quick to reassure.

“And since when do you care about what I think of your appearance,” Glorfindel chuckled, though ceased to do so when no reply came, just an open, somewhat vulnerable look.

“Oh,” he breathed, more touched then he could say, “Oh Erestor,” he shook his head again, and this time Erestor began to chuckle resignedly. “Your skin Erestor,” he spoke, still amazed, “you’re lovely, lovely skin.”

Erestor did turn then, and they stood nearly toe to toe, Glorfindel swallowed, and smiled a slanted smile when Erestor jumped at the touch of the warrior’s hand at the low waistline of his leggings. “May I?”

It took him a moment to realise what it was the warrior meant, but then nodded with a definite flush that had nothing to do with the sun. Gently, Glorfindel bent slightly and pulled back and then down, only a little, the waist line of his leggings, revealing a startling contrast of ivory pale skin, against a straight line of deep red.

“Wow,” he chuckled, and looked back up to Erestor, careful to not let the fabric ping back into place. “I’m impressed.”

Erestor shrugged, playing along, as if it were an achievement

“No I mean it, I’m impressed,” his voice dropped slightly, “I feel a little guilty,” and as Erestor shook his head to shush any apology he might say, he reached up and with the backs of his fingers, gently brushed one pink, warm cheek. “And I’m flattered,” he whispered.

Only two or three inches shorter then the Golden elf, Erestor wondered if the warrior could hear his heart battering against his chest.

“At least it’s not an all over burn,” he spoke somewhat huskily, and Erestor took a deep breath at the almost naught feel of the statement, and let it out in gust of air, smiling shakily.

“I don’t think I could bare it if it was.”

“Seriously, what…?”

“I fell asleep,”

“Ah, I see, never a good idea.”

“Yes I know that now,” he said, biting the corner of his lip. “the heat makes me feel lazy and sleepy, I rolled over and just dropped off.”

An almost adoring look crossed Glorfindel’s features, “like a little kitten curling up in the sun,” he chuckled, and Erestor’s eyes narrowed playfully.

“I was ill you know,” he said, hoping for sympathy to inspire something else in the warrior, he was close to pouting, but decided it beneath him. “In bed for a whole day feeling delightfully nauseous.”

“Oh dear,” Glorfindel spoke sympathetically, nudging a tiny bit closer.

Erestor took a shuddering breath, “and I do so hate being ill,”

“Poor kitten,” Glorfindel grinned, teasing, but also tilting his head to one angle, ready to drop those few inches to…

“Please don’t tell me that little nick name has stuck with you now,” Glorfindel’s only response was a wicked grin that near took Erestor’s breath away, seeing the gap between them slowly close he babbled on out of pure nervousness.

“And Elrond scribbled down what ointment for me to pick up but it isn’t even the right one-”

“Aha!”

Surprised, Erestor jolted backwards, “Aha?”

“I clear forgot,” Glorfindel was reaching into his pocket, and pulled out a small jar, “I ah, I pulled a muscle,” Glorfindel explained, flushing slightly, and seeing Erestor‘s quick grin he groaned. “You read the label, of course you did,” he chuckled. “It’s a very painful pull I’ll have you know,” he defended himself, and smiled at the sound of the advisor’s laughter.

“Anyway,” he spoke, still grinning, “Elrond practically ordered me to pick something up later for it, only when I got back to my quarters, I realised…”

“It wasn’t yours,” Erestor nodded, wondering If this was an innocent mistake or interference from one nosey, endlessly loyal friend.

“Yes,” Glorfindel nodded, “I read the label and it clearly states what it’s for,” he grinned almost sheepishly, “I didn’t really need to think about who it was supposed to be for,” again, he playfully tapped the end of Erestor’s nose.

“Well ah, thank you,” he took the small jar, “and yes, I do have yours,” Glorfindel smiled in relief, “let me just fetch it.”

Erestor disappeared into another room, and when he returned, he was carrying both jars, and reading the one originally meant for him. Glorfindel gladly took his own, but questioned the frown that had appeared on Erestor’s brow.

“What is it?”

“Apply liberally to sore areas,” Erestor read, then looked to Glorfindel helplessly. “wonderful.”

Glorfindel held his hand out, and at Erestor’s questioning look, he took the small pot from him. “Well you can’t very well do it yourself can you.”

“Oh, ah..”

“Erestor,” he said quietly, his voice low, but calming.

Erestor nodded, and headed over to where they had sat earlier.

The soft sighs that left Erestor’s lips were beautiful, even if they were not strictly out of pleasure, but from the cool relief, all the same it was having a definite effect on the warrior. An effect the warrior supposed, that Erestor had always really had over him. Reluctantly he drew his hands away, willing the arousal he felt running through his veins to calm down.

“Feel better?”

When Erestor opened his eyes that had closed in delight earlier, and turned to face the now flushed warrior, Glorfindel was hit hard by the sleepy, almost sated look in those dark eyes. It was stunning, erotic almost.

“Thank you, you have no idea how cooling that stuff is,” he said as he glanced at the correct jar.

A silence lingered between them, and with every fibre of his being Glorfindel wanted to stand and guide Erestor into his bedroom, but instead, he stood and wiped his hands down the front of his own leggings.

“Well it’s gotten quite late.”

Erestor glanced towards a window and seemed shocked to see stars peering from behind clouds. “So it is.”

Eventually, Glorfindel made the first move to the door, and Erestor meekly followed, all the time telling himself plucking up the courage to say what it was he desperately wanted to.

On the other side of the door now, Glorfindel lingered, “So I suppose..”

“Glorfindel?” Erestor interrupted, leaning against the door and taking a deep, steadying breath,.

“Hmm?” The warrior asked, encouraged, standing closer.

“I just wanted to.. Wanted you to know,” a gentle hand under his chin forced him to meet intense blue eyes, “wanted to say..”

“It’s alright,” Glorfindel whispered.

“I’m very, very.. and you don‘t have to say anything back, in fact don‘t say anything just listen. I just need to say that I.. ” and at the smile that slowly spread across the warrior’s lips, he just spilled out what it was he had thought the very moment he had met the Golden elf. “I’m attracted to you. I’m ridiculously attracted to you, I mean I can’t stand it - that’s how much I’m attracted to you.” Erestor let out a deep breath, and smiled shakily. “Well, I feel better for that.” Glorfindel still stood in front of him, with a look that simply melted something warm within the advisor. Glorfindel parted his lips to speak.

“Please don’t,” Erestor urged, “I think tonight was.. good. I think what you might say, might be good, but I wont run any risk of possibly being wrong,” he took a shaky breath, “so, I’ll say night now, and even if I find I was wrong tomorrow, I’ll at least feel good tonight. Alright?”

At Glorfindel’s slight shake of his head, it was obvious he was about say something on the matter.

“Alright?” he asked again quickly, biting off Glorfindel’s words.

Glorfindel took a deep breath, his hand that had gently caressed Erestor’s chin now touched his cheek in a feathery light way. He nodded. “Alright,” and smiled in a way so as to hopefully leave no doubt in Erestor’s mind what his feelings in the matter were.

“Good night then,” Erestor spoke softly, stepping away, behind the door.

“Good night.”

The door closed, and walking away, Glorfindel ran his hands through his hair, groaning. He came to stop in the hall, laughed gently and then shook his head. “Nope, can’t do it.”

He marched back to Erestor’s door and without hesitation, knocked. A moment later it opened.

“Glorf-” Not giving him a chance to speak Glorfindel reached and gently cupped his hands either side of the advisor’s pinkish cheeks, and hunching his shoulders slightly, he tilted his head down to gently, yet without pause, bring their lips together.

A small gasp left the advisor’s lips but was hungrily swallowed by Glorfindel’s insistent kiss. A deep groan left the warrior’s mouth as he pulled Erestor closer, only when the kiss grew more heated and his hands began to wander, did he remember himself. A small hiss left Erestor’s lips, and it was then that he realised his hands stroked up and down Erestor’s back.

“Sorry,” he breathed, his brow rested against Erestor’s and his eyes closed as he attempted to regain some self control. When he opened his eyes he realised Erestor’s were still closed, but that he smiled in gentle surprise.

“I know you said for me to not say anything but, well that’s just not fair, is it?” He laughed, and Erestor stared. “So, if that kiss didn’t give you any sort of indication…” his lips briefly brushed Erestor’s one more time, “me too.”

Erestor looked questioningly, and he nodded, “me too,”

“Glorfindel,” Erestor breathed, and Glorfindel nodded again, pushing himself away.

“I know, I swear if you weren’t so sore, and if I wasn’t, well….” he didn’t need to mention his affliction. In fact he didn’t need to finish his sentence, he walked backwards, and it required a real effort to do so. He bit his lip, and looked Erestor up and down with a groan, causing the advisor to blush a shocking crimson, and he laughed aloud at such a lovely thing.

“We’ll continue this, won’t we?”

Erestor nodded, “yes,” he replied almost breathlessly, and was thankful that the hall was deserted of all others.

He grinned wickedly, and held out his own small jar of soothing cream, “who knows, maybe next time you could help me with my little problem.” And he grinned as Erestor laughed out right at his cheekiness. “It’s time to say good night, properly this time,” he said mournfully.

“Yes it is,” Erestor nodded. He was beaming. “Good night, Glorfindel.”

“Good night” Glorfindel spoke somewhat wistfully, and then added with a wink “Kitten.”

The End.